overturn

/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/

//ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"overturn" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“overturn” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #21,890 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#21,890
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To turn over, capsize or upset.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

overturn vs overrun
75% similar
overturn vs Overton
63% similar
overturn vs overture
88% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for overturn
PropertyValue
Headwordoverturn
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/
Letters8
Frequency rank#21,890
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “overturn” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). overturn lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for overturn is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/. Corpus data places it at rank #21,890 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for overturn, with forms such as "oevrturn", "overrturn", and "overtrun". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "overrun", "Overton", "overture", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English overturnen, equivalent to over- + turn. Compare also Middle English overterven (“to overturn”), see terve. The correct English form is overturn, spelled O-V-E-R-T-U-R-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To turn over, capsize or upset.
  2. 2
    To overthrow or destroy.
  3. 3
    To reverse (a decision); to overrule or rescind.
  4. 4
    To diminish the significance of a previous defeat by winning; to make a comeback from.
  5. 5
    To undergo a limnic eruption, where dissolved gas suddenly erupts from the depths.

Etymology

From Middle English overturnen, equivalent to over- + turn. Compare also Middle English overterven (“to overturn”), see terve.

This word in other languages

volcar(Español)renverser(Français)verwerfen(Deutsch)capotar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: oevrturn,overrturn,overtrun,overtturn,overtunr,overturnn,overturrn,overutrn,ovetrurn,ovreturn,ovverturn,voerturn

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of overturn - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

oevrturn2overrturn1overtrun2overtturn1overtunr2overturnn1overturrn1overutrn2
Edit distance from "overturn"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "overturn"?
"overturn" is spelled O-V-E-R-T-U-R-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/.
What does "overturn" mean?
As a verb, "overturn" means: To turn over, capsize or upset.
What words are commonly confused with "overturn"?
"overturn" is commonly confused with "overrun", "Overton", "overture". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "overturn"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "overturn" is /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "overturn"?
From Middle English overturnen, equivalent to over- + turn. Compare also Middle English overterven (“to overturn”), see terve. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “overturn”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is O-V-E-R-T-U-R-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “overrun” - see the side-by-side comparison. overturn vs overrun
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list